Christmas eve is almost always better than the main event. Quieter, simpler, dare I say more holy, or special or what have you? I dreaded Christmas this year. No cards, no presents, no holly jolly or bowl full of jelly. At the 11th hour, Pete Seeger carols saved the day. I fell asleep looking at the tree for the first time in who knows how long. The candles burned down.

Our tree was nearly empty this year. Tokens and toothbrushes and the like. I bought pretty beeswax tapers and Micha decorated the mantel. We ate our traditional dinner in the living room, but were too full from 5 types of cheese to even touch the lobsters. Seeing my parents snuggle and slow dance was the only present I really cared about, anyways.

34 comments:

My family and I moved Christmas morning to Christmas Eve, and we love it! We're not rushing, we can eat pie, and we play board games late into the night. Your Eve looked like it was quite lovely, thank you for sharing!

I would give every Christmas present I've ever received to have Dad back, and to see him slow dance with Mom. Glad to know you had the really important things (and recognize them for what they are) this Christmas. Beautiful photos!

Your post said to me that maybe you felt a well-justified, personal struggle against the elusive Commercial-Christmas-Promise that all may be made perfect through materialism and store-bought gifts. That you would share this personal account, juxtaposed against the most inspiring and delicately tender photographs, is a truly generous gift to all of us observing from afar. You could easily have posted these photos without any mention of the bitter in their sweetness, but instead, you let us into your truth, and with that, only amplified their magical beauty. My heartfelt thanks to you for pulling back the veil and letting us in.

Hey Amy! What a wonderful collection of prose & photographs. You are so talented & have captured the "true" meaning of Christmas. Thank you for sharing such intimate details/pics with "US". It takes a great deal of courage to expose ones inner most thoughts. It is the very essence of your charm. I know most ppl do not like to toot their own horn...I shall toot it for you! ~~TOOT TOOT~~ Excellent job my dear. May you be blessed with all the happiness & adventure you can stand in 2012! Love all the arrangements & decorations as well!